In its January 13, 2025 letter to the federal EPA, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) withdrew its requests for federal approval to enforce zero-emission trucks through the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation, anticipating opposition from the incoming administration.
While the ACF regulation will not be enforced, there are still a number of other regulatory frameworks California is using to curb greenhouse gas emissions: Notably, the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule and the Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) program.
Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule
The ACT rule transitions medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to zero-emission models, requiring an increasing percentage of OEM vehicle sales in the state to be zero-emission. In 2025, it’s required that 7% – 11% of vehicle sales must be zero-emission. As we wrote about in a previous article, manufacturers met the 2024 sales targets two years early when 16% of their in -state sales were zero-emission. OEMs meet that requirement two years early 17 other states followed California lead by signing a Multi-State Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to align with the ACT ruling.
Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) program
The WAIRE program was created in 2021 with the aim to reduce nitrogen oxide and diesel emissions associated with warehouses that are within the jurisdiction of California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District. Over 4,000 warehouses in parts of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties fall under the South Coast AQMD jurisdiction and are subject to the WAIRE program’s compliance and reporting standards.
Take action now
Despite the uncertainty surrounding ACF implementation, we’ve collaborated closely with OEMs, fleets, and warehouse operators to deploy commercial EVs statewide. Initially driven by regulatory goals, these efforts have demonstrated that well-designed programs can also deliver significant economic benefits.
Our team of fleet operations, infrastructure and electric vehicle experts can help realize these economic and operational benefits while also enjoying the environmental and regulatory benefits that come along with it. There are more than 30,000 zero-emission trucks on the road today and with vehicle ranges increasing, battery cost decreasing, and stable electricity pricing more attractive than variable diesel rates, let us help you deploy an economically positive fleet electrification strategy.